US drone strike in North Waziristan kills five Uzbek 'militants'

Published May 16, 2015
Two missiles were fired that hit two houses in Shawal Tehsil of North Waziristan Agency. -AP/File photo
Two missiles were fired that hit two houses in Shawal Tehsil of North Waziristan Agency. -AP/File photo

PESHAWAR: A US drone strike late on Saturday left five suspected militants dead and two others injured in North Waziristan Agency, sources told DawnNews.

It further said that two missiles were fired that hit two houses in Warokey Mandi area of Shawal Tehsil of North Waziristan Agency, a tribal region where the military has since June been battling militants linked to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.

Meanwhile, official sources claimed that those suspected militants killed in the US drone strike were Uzbek nationals.

The area is generally off-limits to journalists, making it difficult to independently verify the number and identity of the dead.

“The US drone fired two missiles targeting a militant compound, killing four rebels,” a senior security official said on condition of anonymity.

Know more: Senior Afghan militant with IS links 'killed in drone attack'

North Waziristan is among Pakistan’s seven tribal districts near the Afghan border which are rife with insurgents and have been strongholds of Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives, among others.

Also read: 7 militants killed in drone strike

Military in June last year had launched an all-out operation named 'Zarb-i-Azb' against Taliban militants in the region.

Drone attacks are widely unpopular across Pakistan and according to a survey conducted in June 2013, 66 per cent of the country's citizens oppose these strikes.

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